The Real Reason Paul Stamets Told Joe Rogan He Can't Talk About Portobello Mushrooms

Comedian, psychonaut, and podcaster Joe Rogan, once hosted mushroom maniac Paul Stamets on JRE to pick the fun-guy’s brain on fungi. At a point in the interview, Rogan brings up the beloved portobello mushroom. We learn from Stamets that there are both beneficial and harmful compounds housed inside the species fungus. Hydrazines and Agaratines, to be specific.

According to Wikipedia, Agaratines are carcinogenic in high doses. Hydrazine is used in rocket fuels. So this seemingly harmless pizza topping may be a bit more sinister than you’d think

[link to www.ebaumsworld.com (secure)]

The button mushrooms are grown on factory farm chicken manure which contains extremely high levels of arsenic that the mushrooms absorb. Unless portos are grown on oak logs, they are even worse.

Paul is not a maniac though. I pretty much quit eating Agaricus after this talk. I used to pick them every summer. Not anymore, too many better edible mushrooms anyway.